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ol； yanking on the disk and pulling the chain tight around Halisstra's waist。 Dragged forward； she flailed at the spider with her sword。 Then the spider became ethereal once more； allowing her to stagger back。
If only she still had her clerical magic； she could have blasted the creature with a column of flame or held it at bay with a wall of wind。 But those spells； like the charm she'd already tried； would in all likelihood also have failed。 Lolth would hardly have granted one of her priestesses the power to kill one of her beloved； arachnid children； after all。
Eilistraee； however； would kill a spider without the slightest qualm。 And if indeed the goddess was watching the battle…as Uluyara and Feliane almost certainly were…she just might grant her most recent convert the magic she needed to save her own life by restoring her spells to her。
Swept up in that revelation； that hope； Halisstra nearly missed spotting the phase spider when it re…appeared suddenly on a tree branch above her and dropped silently down in a direct line with her head。 Only the slight creak of the branch warned her。
Just in time she threw herself to the side。 Halisstra scrambled across the ground on hands and knees； dragging her sword behind her； then struggled to her feet again。
The spider； sensing that she was tiring； walked slowly across the clearing toward her； taking its time。 Venom dripped onto the ground between its feet as its jaws opened and shut； anticipating the meal it would soon have。
Knowing it might be her only chance； Halisstra grasped the hilt of Seyll's sword in both hands and raised it above her head…not in preparation to swing it but instead to point it at the moon。
〃Eilistraee； hear me！〃 she cried。 〃From this night on； I forsake Lolth and swear to be your humble servant。 If you deem me worthy； I beseech you。 Will you have me？ If so； give me the magic I need to prove the truth of my words by slaying this symbol of Lolth。 Give me the power to cast spells in your name…and to your everlasting glory！〃
Her words rang out with the power and clarity of a song that was perfectly in tune and in harmony with her heart。
And she was answered。
The spell Eilistraee sent her looked like Lolth's flame strike； except that the vertical column of divine energy was silvery…white in color and seemed to rush down from the moon itself。 It struck the phase spider when the creature was no more than a pace away from Halisstra； enveloping it in a beam of blindingly bright； absolutely silent light。 One moment the spider was there； rearing up to rake impotently at the magical fire with its legs as it was enveloped in flickering white flames； the next； it was lying in a crumpled heap； bleached bone…white by the moonlight。
Eyes wide with wonder； Halisstra nudged the dead creature with the broken tip of her sword。 The spider； burned instantly to ash by the cold magical moonfire； broke apart into pieces； which in turn collapsed； leaving only an outline of ash on the ground。 A moment later； the wind blew it away。
Sensing someone staring at her； Halisstra glanced up； expecting to see either Uluyara or Feliane。 Instead it was Ryld who gaped at her from the far side of the clearing。 He was holding his greatsword in both hands； but the tip of its blade rested on the ground in front of him as if the weapons master had forgotten how to use it。 His eyes were wide； his mouth open and panting。 He'd obviously e at the run。 After a moment； he seemed to remember how to speak。
〃Halisstra；〃 he whispered。 〃What have you done？ You can never go back now。 Never。〃
Halisstra stared at Ryld across the space where the spider had just died； conflicting emotions warring within her。 She felt irritation at the fact that he had disobeyed her and followed her…and； at the same time； joy that he had cared about her enough to do so。
At last she sighed and said； 〃That's true； Ryld； but you can go back。 You still have a choice； a choice between the Underdark and Lolth…who is obviously as dead as this spider…and Eilistraee； who smiles down upon us now。 Which will you choose？〃
Ryld stood silently for several long moments； then lifted his greatsword and shoved it into the sheath on his back。
〃I choose you；〃 he said； staring at Halisstra。 〃If you will have me。〃
Before Halisstra could answer； Uluyara and Feliane stepped out of the forest。 Feliane was smiling at Halisstra； a look of rapturous joy on her face； but Uluyara kept a keen eye on Ryld； as if watching to make sure he wasn't going to draw his sword。
〃If Eilistraee will have you； then you are wele among us；〃 Uluyara told him。 〃If not； then you will have to leave。〃 A wry smile played about her lips。 〃Permanently； this time。〃
Ryld nodded and said； 〃Understood。〃
Uluyara turned to Halisstra。
〃e； priestess；〃 she said。 〃There is much； yet； that you must learn。 And much that you must do。 This is only the first of the trials the goddess has ordained for you。〃
Halisstra bowed； acknowledging her new mistress。 At the same time； her mind whirled at the wonder of it all。 She'd fled from Ched Nasad as a homeless refugee； hoping to find out if her goddess was alive or dead； only to have her hopes dashed against the black stone monolith that sealed Lolth's temple。 But in the alien forests of the World Above； she'd found something entirely unexpected； a new home…and a new goddess。 In gratitude； Halisstra knew she would serve Eilistraee faithfully from that night forward。 Whatever the goddess asked of her； Halisstra would give it。
Rising from her bow； she glanced at Ryld； silently contemplating the warrior。 Would he do the same？ Or would ing up into Eilistraee's light prove too much for Ryld； too far at odds with the ways he had always known？
Only time would tell。
Chapter Twenty
Quenthel stared thoughtfully at Danifae's submissively bowed back。 If the lesser priestess was to be believed； Pharaun was at last making his move。 After endless petty insubordination； the infuriating male had finally worked up the courage to inflict the killing bite。 Except that he didn't have the strength of will to kill Quenthel himself。 Instead； he would let the aboleth do her in。 That way； he could report back to the matron mother…honestly…that Quenthel had died at the hands of another； hostile race； in the pursuit of her quest。
A quest he obviously hoped to make his own； in order to steal what should rightfully be Quenthel's glory。
Quenthel stroked the sinuous bodies of her vipers； which shuddered softly as they shared her thoughts。
She must be telling the truth； Yngoth said； staring fixedly at the top of Danifae's lowered head。 I can see no reason for her to make up such a story。
Nor can I； Quenthel thought back。
Danifae is your loyal servant。 Mistress！ said K'Sothra； squirming with delight。
Quenthel sighed and stroked the smaller viper's head。 K'Sothra was pretty； but she wasn't very bright。 She took everything at face value； pletely missing the subtle nuances of deceit that usually lay just beneath the surface of so blatant a betrayal。 But Quenthel thought that the naive snake might actually be correct。 Danifae's motivation seemed clear as quartz crystal。 The lesser priestess had everything to gain by betraying Pharaun's plans to Quenthel and nothing to lose。 When Lolth reawakened； Danifae would no doubt attempt to claim a prominent place in Arach…Tinilith。
Quenthel shifted the whip to her left hand…smiling when Danifae flinched as the serpents passed over her head…and she curled the fingers of her right hand。 She rested her fingertips lightly on Danifae's bowed head。
〃You will be rewarded；〃 she told the lesser priestess。 〃Now go。 Return to Pharaun； before he suspects what you've been doing。〃
Danifae rose； smiling； and turned to leave the narrow cavern。 Jeggred； who had been hunkered by the entrance the whole time； watching the tunnel beyond for signs of danger； flexed the claws of his fighting hands and glanced back over his shoulder at Quenthel。 She gave a slight shake of her head； and Jeggred flattened against the wall to let Danifae pass。
〃What about the mage？〃 the draegloth growled。
Quenthel saw that the hair on the back of his neck had risen。 He'd listened carefully to everything Danifae said and was balanced on the knife edge of one of his rages。 The slightest word from Quenthel would send him into violent motion back down the tunnel to where Pharaun sat by the waterfall； studying his spellbooks。
〃I will deal with him myself；〃 Quenthel told him。 〃Later。〃
Still growling softly； Jeggred settled back into a crouch； wrapping his smaller arms around his knees。 Red eyes stared out into the tunnel； and slowly his hackles smoothed。
Quenthel sat for a moment in silence； brooding。 The cavern she'd chosen for her Reverie was no larger than a servant's room； but it had a high ceiling that ended in a narrow fissure。 Water seeped down one wall to puddle near her feet。 It trickled out through the opening where Jeggred squatted； eventually joining the river she could hear flowing through the tunnel outside。 A cluster of faintly luminescent； round fungi grew on the wet wall beside her； casting a dim greenish light。 Quenthel reached out and popped one with a fingernail； releasing a sparkle of spores； then she contemplated her glowing fingertip。
Useful as Pharaun's spells were； his latest treachery had tipped the scales； turning him into a liability…one that needed to be eliminated。 Yet killing him was not the simple solution it seemed。
Pharaun was a powerful wizard and a key player in the politics of the Academy。 If it was learned that Quenthel had killed him； she would surely face the wrath of Pharaun's patron； her brother Gromph。 Quenthel's sister Triel； Matron Mother of House Baenre； would not be pleased at having to choose sides between her siblings； especially as long as they were all weakened by Lolth's inattention。 By all accounts； Pharaun's own matron mother； Miz'ri Mizzrym； was hardly fond of the mage； but he was a Master of Sorcere after all and still an important part of House Mizzrym's modest assets…and House Mizzrym was a close ally of the First House。 The other masters and wizards of Sorcere would likewise be displeased to lose one of their own…especially one important enough to have been chosen for the expedition in the first place。 Killing Pharaun would indeed be difficult； yet there had to be a way。 。 。 。
Quenthel thought over what Danifae had told her。 According to the battle…captive； the aboleth would only reveal where the ship of chaos was in exchange for an opportunity to consume a powerful spellcaster。 Pharaun was obviously gambling that Oothoon would fail to realize that Quenthel's spells were no longer useful…that the aboleth would provide him with the location of the ship before his trickery was discovered。 And the aboleth matriarch had obviously believed him。 If not； she would have simply consumed Pharaun on the spot to acquire the spells the wizard carried inside his own mind。
You should turn the sava board on him； Yngoth suggested。 Offer Pharaun to Oothoon； in exchange for the ship。
Easily said； Quenthel answered。 But not so easily done。 I would have to meet Oothoon in person and first persuade the aboleth matriarch that I was not worth eating。
Tell the truth； Zinda said。 Your spells are useless。 Lolth is silent； perhaps forever。 Perhaps she is dead。
〃No！〃 Quenthel cried aloud。 〃Lolth lives！〃
Seeing Jeggred's sharp glance in her direction； she shut her mouth。
She must live； she continued silently。 If I didn't believe she was still alive； I would…
What？ Yngoth spat； his thoughts cracking Quenthel out of her despair。 Give up？ Embrace death yourself？ What god； then； would claim your soul？
Anger making her steadier…she hated it when the vipers peered into her innermost fears…Quenthel spat her thoughts back at them。
No。 Never that。 It's just that revealing what has happened to Lolth would mean bargaining from a position of weakness。 The aboleth would realize I was powerless。 She might even decide to mount an attack on the drow； as